Little May: the old friend with new perspectives

by Susan Shelton

The most surprising thing about the new Little May EP isn’t the subtle drama or the mellow atmosphere. It’s the fact that it sounds like it played in your childhood and you’ve been waiting to hear it again ever since that moment. It’s foggy like you haven’t thought about it in a while, but clear because you remember the feelings associated with it. And, somehow, you’ve never actually heard it before.

Emotion is extremely prevalent in the EP and it’s made immediately clear. From the opening track “Dust” there is vast imagery of heartbreak and solitude. The mood is sometimes overly melancholy but for the most part, it is just enough to indulge in. Throughout the EP, there are catchy lines and verses and almost all of them are weighed down at least a little bit by strong emotions of pining and sadness. The track “Hide” following “Dust” adds a zap of anger to the album, though the anger is still presented in dulcet guitar riffs and simple, rich vocals.

The simplicity of the EP is it’s greatest trait to be desired. The tracks open very simply, with few layers of sound and even by the climax of each song, there aren’t many layers. The exception is the half-baked pop alternative track “Bones” which speeds and slows often and takes the listener through a different story with each listen. As an EP whole, it’s not much to absorb and that makes for really easy listening, even if it seems to lack depth at times.

All in all, this EP is something to celebrate quietly in your home with a candle. Nonetheless, it should be celebrated for it’s emotional conveyance and simple structure.

Release date: October 10, 2014